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| Annie Rose both rides and drives with the horses so you are likely to meet her, she started the business and is a passionate devotee of the Clydesdale Horse, she holds a variety of qualifications, from her BHS II , an N.V.Q. in Equine Management, both her Single and Pair of Horses Road Driving Assessments, H.S.E. First Aid at Work Certificate and is currently training towards her B.H.S. III, P.T.T., and her Holiday Riding Centre Manager within British Equestrian Tourism. She has a Nursing and Outdoor Instructing background and years of equestrian experience, she is enthusiastic about lifelong learning and runs a variety of teaching and training options over the year. She possesses a distinct sense of humour which keeps things fun....but professional at all times.(Just don't look at the photo of her on the pony......)Her "big baby" is Tommy although Max comes a very close second, and she hopes to improve both herself and Tommy enough to compete with him (dressage!) | |
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| Tim
Ancrum is the
Estate Manager here on the Armadale Estate and has an in-depth knowledge
of the land you will trek over. He is a mad keen rider and spends a lot
of time helping either on treks or around the yard. His mum used to run
a riding centre so he grew up around horses, he is the adventurous one!
He holds the H.S.E. First Aid at Work Certificate (he is Armadale's Health
and Safety Officer) and from his sailing days has a huge amount of teaching
and training experience which he finds carries over into the equestrian
world. He is currently training towards his B.H.S. Stage I and the Ride
Leader qualification. He is most likely to be your Ride Leader if you do
a Trail Ride with us or visit at weekends! His "main man" is Major who
is much improved by the input...we think Major would do well at Le Trec
but we cannot do that seriously until we buy that elusive horse-box....
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| Amy Roche-Gordon joined us early 2004 and has worked in the Equine Leisure industry in Scotland for many years. She holds a TRSS Operator's Certificate and helps to keep our yard running smoothly. Amy is very devoted to the horses and would like to expand her skills by learning more about natural horsemanship and equine alternative medicine. With a lot of experience in competition riding Amy is a team member at our demonstration rides at venues such as the Blair Horse Trials. Amy has a ready laugh and an excellent sense of humour whilst remaining very professional. | |
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Other folk you might meet include:
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| Victoria, our best little helper and brave soul who will ride anyone! She helps out a lot at weekends and is in the photo with Annie on the ponies. She started riding with us about two years ago and has progressed from ponies to very large horses, she's a competent young lady who loves being around the horses. | Leslie has just completed her second season with us and is as much valued by the horses as she is by us. Leslie has an exceptional knowledge of the local area, including landmarks, flora and fauna and is able to speak quite fluently in the local gaelic dialect. We often call upon Leslie to apply her excellent knowledge of healing the horses with native herbs. |
| Carol and Richard, who own Prince, often pop into the yard to say hello....you might get taken to their house on a ride for a sherry!!! Both are wonderful people and staunch supporters of the ridden Clydesdale and our little business. | Our resident mad Aussie Donna , joined us for the 2004 season and hopes to return for next summer. She has been around horses most of her life and Clydesdale horses are in her family as her Uncle is an Australian Heavy Horse Judge and her Great Grandfather was a breeder of Clydesdales in Scotland. |
Welcome to Tracy, the junior member of the team who joined us mid-season right in the middle of our busiest time. Tracy is very passionate about Clydesdales and has fallen in love with our very own Clyde. We hope to see them both back with us next season.
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Bennydog is a smooth coated Border Collie, he is particularly soppy and friendly as he has been around people all his life, he doesn't understand it when folk are nervous of him! He is often at the farm or with Annie on the dray and is part of our team!!! If you are up at the farm please do not throw things (sticks / frisbees/ footballs) for him...he sustained a shoulder injury last year by overdoing this...with typical Collie fanaticism! He accompanies us on many of the rides and is a very obedient and gentle friend- he's great with children, he's a real people dog. |
Our Clydesdales!
| Max
Max is around 14 years old, he stands 17.2 hh at the withers, rides very well and drives both pair and single carts. He is a very smart yet sensitive horse....I've known/owned him for nine years now, he taught me so much about driving when I started, as I knew so little! Max is one of my original team (with Prince) and has been the backbone of the initial dray business, and my main horse for weddings, he is fantastic to work with. Before I bought him he had been used to haul wood out of forests. He seems to enjoy being ridden, loves a paddle and remains my main dray horse. He won fourth place in the Ridden Class at the Clydesdale Society's Aberdeen Show in summer 2003 and represented us at Blair Castle in our ridden demonstration this summer 2004. |
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Jock
Has been with us since May 2002, he came to us from Wick, from Donald who bred him, so we know exactly how old he is, 17 years in spring '05. He stands 17.1hh, is a bay roan colour, and is a really old-fashioned chunky Clydesdale. He comes across sometimes as being a little bit miffed at having been dragged out of semi-retirement but having been taught to ride and now being our third dray horse he's an important member of our team. Jock has a very gentle way about him and is a credit to the handling Donald, his previous owner/breeder, gave him; he has found himself on top of the herd pecking order in the past, to our surprise! Previously used sporadically for agricultural purposes harrowing, ploughing etc both singly and as part of a team, he has also been shown at the Royal Highland Show and represented us at Blair Castle in our ridden demonstration this summer '04. He is a half-brother to Major and is a very steady horse to ride, my seven-year-old son, Jamie, rides him regularly! |
| Major
Joined us with Jock in May 2002 from Wick, is six years old and a lovely strawberry roan, stands about 17hh and is lightly built for a Clydesdale which really suits his use as a riding horse. He has been taught to be ridden by us and is now one of the better riding horses for experienced riders as he is quite forward going i.e. likes going fast!! He has been taken in hand by Tim so has had a lot of time spent on him, hence he's so responsive.....he's great at long routes e.g. the Dalavil trip as he is very brave and will have a go at anything, also enjoying jumping. As he's a young horse he's a valuable addition to our team, he loves his food and has a gentle disposition! We think he will "fill out" a little as he heads towards his prime! Excellent at field escapes even takes gates off their hinges! |
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Tommy
Has been with us since October 2001 and was also taught to be ridden by us. He is the "upper-class" Clydesdale i.e. comes from excellent bloodlines ,his father is the famous "Colessie Cut Above" Stallion owned by Ronnie Black, a prominent figure in Clydesdale showing circles. His whole body shape is different, much slimmer with long legs, he stands at 17.3hh and is a bay with 4 white legs, has been a real favourite with myself so has had a lot of input...he can ride really well but does a very good donkey impression when used for beginners....he does have a very laid-back temperament. He had been in Ireland and well handled but completely "green" when we bought him...I would ideally like to see him working the dray with Max as that was originally why he was purchased, and have hopes that he will show well as he has good natural collection. Is very curious and nosey so always gets into trouble...if it can be prodded pushed bashed broken or otherwise damaged (often himself in the process) then Tommy's your man!!! Nickname "Poncey"!! |
| Clyde
He joined us in March 2003, from Essex, which was a long haul! This has lead to his nick-name of "Essex boy"!! He was given to us, as his previous owner wanted him to live a useful working life, which she felt he didn't get with her and has been fantastic fun. I suspect, given his past livery existence, that he has had little herd opportunity as his equine body language, especially around food, is poor so we have to be aware of this. He seems to be a very hardy horse and seems happier now to be working and living a much more natural existence. Clyde is 17.2hh and is twelve years old. He is a great horse to ride, he enjoys jumping, is very smooth at all paces and has a tendency to fidget once his rider is aboard as he just wants to get going, although I think this will improve in time! He is an unusual colour -a white roan i.e. has a white coat with brown shot through it-with one blue eye the other brown. He has been very popular with many of our regular riders! |
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Blue
Joined us in summer of 2003 as a gangly three year old from Drumcarrow Craig livery yard where his previous owners had omitted to pay the fees, so was well handled, turned four in february '04 and we worked with him to enable him to join the team this past summer. He now stands approx 17.1 at the withers with more growing yet to come, although as he gets older he'll be filling out!. Is working very well, has lovely paces and a kind nature, rides well for experienced riders, can be stopped from the seat .Has potential to be a cracking riding horse, Tim spends alot of time on him and Donna is in lurve!! |
| Emma
Joined us earlier this year from Arisaig, on a long loan with, I hope, a view to buy. She is our only Clydesdale mare, is our largest Clydesdale at 17.3 and is very pretty and sweet natured, she has the bounciest trot in the universe!!! Her lovely flowing black mane and tail and looks make her a popular choice. She has a lovely canter and is actually quite fast for her size, has been jumping logs well too!! Hope we get to keep her, she's lovely. Has been fantastic over the summer with her first appearance at Blair International Horse Trials with not a problem, she has such a laid back temperament. |
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I .M. (Alias - "Beefcake")
Joined us in september of 2004 along with his son, Ben; IM is a dark bay, very beautiful, was gelded late at three years old after siring a few foals, Ben obviously being one of them. Is a big boy, stands 17.3 a magnificent horse, fantastic looker, is pleasant to handle having been shown extensively so having already backed him I anticipate he will be a real asset to us. Would be an excellent dray horse, so given time I would anticipate he could join Prince or Max as a dray team member. |
| Brogue
Our other blue roan, he has been well shown and handled by previous owners Alan and Evelyn Campell. Brogue will turn four in spring '05 so will be joining us in work that summer. Currently at rest and enjoying gentle regular handling with our other youngsters, he has proved a dream to handle and displays a very pleasant outlook on life. With such a good start, I anticipate he will be a great asset to the team. Already standing 17.2 and growing he will be quite a big boy when he matures! A good looking horse, would make a good big dray horse too. |
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Ben
Joining us in September 2004 with his dad I.M., Ben was initially inseperable but has has settled down considerably and become great friends with the other youngsters. At 17hh and growing, he is a very attractive Clydesdale with lovely proportions and a pale flowing mane and tail. Is currently undergoing formal training as he is very 'green' having had less attention than his father (time is always eaten up by horses!) and is doing very well, we are pleased with his progress and would anticipate he wil be a valued team member over summer 2005 onwards. Would probably make a good dray horse in the future. |
Our Shire!
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Prince
He is our only Shire, he stands almost 18hh and is probably the most impressive member of the team , he is 17 or 18 yrs old and is a lovely bay colour. The Shire is originally an English horse and is almost always a complete colour, never roan as the Clydesdale can be. Prince is one of the founder members of the business, I've had the pleasure of knowing him for seven years now, and he remains, with Max, my best team for the dray! As the oldest team member he can sometimes be the archetypal "Grumpy old man" and will on rare occasions take a pot-shot at the younger horses ("how dare they be so impudent") so wears a red ribbon to remind our clients on rides!! He is a lovely riding horse, and really does feel like a draught horse, is quite bouncy, and very mellow. He has less "feather" than the Clydesdale and a finer coat. He is now owned by Carol and Richard, great friends and supporters of our horses, and is used by us on agreement being a fantastic trekking and dray horse. One of our best horses. |
The Ponies
We have two ponies within the business both of whom are used for smaller folk, children mainly, although we all ride Rhuaraidh on rides as an escort pony......particularly if we have too many gates to open!!
| Rhu (known affectionately as "Stinky Pony"), will be eight years old in June '05 he stands 14hh and I have owned him
since he was three. Originally bought for the children but is not a childs ride as can be strong, I love riding him myself.
Is very intelligent, easy to work with as is kind despite his stubborn pony nature and is very much loved. Known as a
dapple grey due to the dapples in his coat, he's a Highland pony which is native to these parts. We use him as both a staff ride
and for clients as he's a lovely lead rein pony, he's fantastic with children as he's so gentle.
Alison is on a long loan with us,she's a Dartmoor pony, about 12.1hh now 13 yrs old, bred on Skye from Waternish area. She has had laminitis in the past due to overgrazing rich grass so will continue to have a tendancy to get it, she needs very little grass and care in shoeing. She is kind to young children and responsive to small hands so is a good confidence giving pony for young riders as well as being a good lead rein pony. |
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